Pair who evaded summons ten times are 'not Al-Baghdadi,' remarks court

A court has ordered a nationwide search for two persons accused of threatening the mayor of St Paul's Bay and the local council's acting Secretary in 2015 after no less than 10 unsuccessful attempts to serve them with a notice of summons.

Carmel Dimech, 58, and Josephine Dimech, 55, of Zebbug are wanted to face charges relating to an incident that occurred in October 2015, at a lawyer's office in Valletta, during which they allegedly threatened and insulted mayor Graziella Galea and acting secretary Paul Gatt and caused them to fear that violence would be used against them.

But when the case was called today, police inspector Priscilla Caruana Lee informed the court that the police had been unable to find the pair at their registered address, or that of their son, or at their place of work, in order to serve them with their summons.

Magistrate Joe Mifsud expressed outrage at the fact that the case had already been put off nine times for the same reason since February 2016.

The magistrate said he deemed the charges to be very serious, saying he would not tolerate the intimidation of those who are giving a service to the country.

“As far as the Court it aware, Carmel Dimech and Josephine Dimech are not [Abu Bakr al-] Baghdadi of ISIS, whose hiding place is very difficult to trace and is ordering that a search of the entire country begin immediately so that if Carmel Dimech and Josephine Dimech are traced, they will be notified to appear before this Court.”

Magistrate Mifsud said he would not permit “serious shortcomings on the part of the Police Corps” to allow the charges to become time-barred, warning that the court itself would take steps against the Commissioner of Police and the individuals in charge of the notification judicial acts if the summons is not served in time.

Lawyer Sara Pirotta Chircop Beck is appearing parte civile for the victims.